A Sure Deal?

Boone had his things packed though he was not happy. "Where is it?" He asked. "I can't find it anywhere ..."

Jostice looked to him, scrimmaging around Leslie's place. "What are you looking for?"

The boy held out a large, leather tome. "Grandpappy's Tome ... I had it here in my bedroom ... but it's gone missing."

Jostice laughed, "I'm sure it will turn up. Who's tome is that?"

Boone stopped from peeking under the bed, looking down at the heavy book resting on his lap. "It's Grotknot's Tome."

"Can I see it—"

"You may certainly not! Don't you know anything?" Boone's nose wrinkled, blonde hair draping over his eyes. "A tome is only able to be read by Kin; and you're not Kin."

Jostice crossed his arm, "and what do you intend on doing with it?"

"What do you think? I'm going to return it to Grotknots grandaughter." He rubbed the smooth leather. "It's hers afterall, and Grotknot would want her to have it."

"And when do you plan on doing that?"

"When I'm healed and got the rations, a stable horse, and the time do so." He rubbed his chin. "Now where could that book be?"

Leslie appeared in the doorway, glowing from a clean wash, and a new button shirt and trousers. She leaned against the frame, smiling brightly. "Y'all ready or just planning on sitting there?"

Boone looked to her like a puppy, "I can't find Grandpappy's Tome."

She jerked her head, "I already got in the wagon next to coffins."

Energy burst through Boones legs and he shot up on his feet. "You touched it? You didn't read it, did you?"

Leslie shifted uncomfortably, shaking her head. Her wavy, scarlet strands whipping between shoulders. "'course not. I have no need for alchemy."

"Good! Because that tome if for Kin eyes only."

"I thought Rainon and I was your Kin."

Boone had to think about this one. "Well, you is, in some sense ... but only blood can see the Rigger tome. And that's a rule we alchemists must abide by."

Leslie laughed, "I thought you didn't want to be an alchemist ... but a gunslinger."

The boy adjusted the tome in his arms, working to get a better grip. "I can be both. I'm the Iron Alchemist after all ... Isn't that right, Jostice?" He looked at Leslie then turned to the boy and nodded. Boone said, "I've been meaning to ask you ... how did you know my Grandpappy?"

There was a brief silence while Jostice worked to find his tongue. "Well, you see, I ... I, mean, ... well ... Your father and I were best friends."

From the doorway, Leslie glared, rolled her eyes and left. He'd already done one thing worng ... made her unhappy.

Boone's eyes were bulging. "Really? So you'll tell me all about him on the way home?"

"Sure thing, Kid." Jostice scratched his head, uneasy. "And I can tell you about the days when we raced down the Wagon Run. You know, the event will becoming up in a few years ... maybe you and I could train and enter ... we'd make one hell of a team."

The boy lips rised, "sure we would," and he stuck out a hand. "Partner!"

Jostice gave him a good shake. "Partner! Oh, I've got something for you." He twisted at the hip, yanking a purse and placing it in his lap. "Your share of the coin — I didn't take much — the rest is going to Leslie to restore her ranch."

Boone pulled the leather strands and the sack opened. His eyes flickered at the golden display. "Woah! Never seen such a purse."

"Do with it what you will. You've got your Grandpappy's cottage now. And if you'd like, I can come and help you maintain it, amongst other things."

Boone felt his body spring forward, tome falling, arms wrapping around the man. Jostice hesitated before patting the boy gently. He smiled then they parted.

"'Course I'd like you to come by ... a friend of my father is a friend of mine." Boone looked down at the brick of leather, kneeling down, and hoisting it off the ground with a grunt. "I best get this to the wagon before it gets damaged."

Once the wagon was loaded they were off towards the train station. They planned to get there early, even left before sunrise, but the street had already flooded with those eager to start their own long journeys back to their homes.

The square was only a couple blocks away, jammed with wagon, all people wanting to eye Sundown Citys gallows and large white captiol building. Boone didn't share their interest, looking upon a building a few streets up with too many chimneys for one space.

"I'll be right back," Boone said, leaping from the wagon.

Jostice yelled, "Where in the blaze are you going?" 

The boy ran up the street. "Further than y'all ... I'll be back before you move."

There were too many people crammed together in one space, and it made it difficult for Boone to squeeze his way through all the bodies, inching towards the building.

Once there, Boone climbed the steps and halted at the double doors, giving them a pair of heavy knocks. For a moment, he thought no one home, getting ready to leave then suddenly he could hear a voice carry through the building.

"Oakot! Are you going to get that ... worthless!" A man pulled the door open, screaming inside. "Worthless I tell ya!" Volvian twised and glared at him behind his thick, rounded glasses. His vibrant, red hair standing like flames. "Oh, it's you ... I thought you'd already acquired your grandpappy's remains."

"We have ..." Boone raised his arm, holding his purse. He gave it a rattle. "I've came to make you an offer."

From behind him, stood the midnight skinned boy wrapped in his red robe. Eyes white as frost.

The stir doc raised an eyebrow, "and what are you buying?"

Boone pointed, "your slave. You said that if somebody would make an offer you'd gladly be willing to sell; and I'm here to make that offer." He opened the purse. "I've got much work to be done at the cottage—"

"Slave?" The man chuckled. "He's no slave ... he's my apprentice."

Oakot shockingly spoke, "That's mighty kind of you to say, Master—"

"Shut up!" He waved a hand. "Now, boy, move along. We've got much work to do ourselves." The door slammed as it shut. And the man hollared off into the depths of the building.

Boone turned around.